Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Mr. Joseph A. Wasserman of southwest Michigan. After nearly four decades in health administration, Mr. Wasserman will be retiring as the president and CEO of Lakeland HealthCare.

A man of the Midwest, Joseph was born in Lima, Ohio. He went on to receive his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Toledo and his master's in health administration from the University of Michigan. Joseph was named the president and CEO of Lakeland HealthCare in 1984 and has served in his position with distinction and honor.

Throughout his career as president and CEO, Joseph Wasserman has played a vital role in the success of Lakeland HealthCare. He managed the merger of four hospitals in the system, including the consolidation of the organizational structure to enhance the quality and value of services for southwest Michigan residents. Joseph introduced key services and technology to provide a continuum of care in areas such as oncology, outpatient services, long-term care, and home care. He led the healthcare industry in the area of evidence-based design by creating spaces that promote healing. He also launched an innovative five-star service program to create a service-minded, patient-centered culture. These impressive achievements earned Joseph such honors as the 2009 Health Care Weekly Review Excellent Administrator of the Year Award and the 2008 MHA Meritorious Service Award, and earned Lakeland HealthCare the Gold Seal of Approval for Primary Stroke Centers from the Joint Commission and the 2008 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence.

Throughout his nearly four decades in healthcare administration, Joseph Wasserman's leadership skills, compassion, and commitment to outstanding service have made him an asset not only to Lakeland HealthCare, but to the entire State of Michigan. As Mr. Wasserman prepares for his retirement this September, he leaves a legacy that will benefit the community for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the International Right of Way Association, which is celebrating its 75th Anniversary on Friday, October 16, 2009. IRWA is responsible for educating and cultivating top talent in the industry that has led us to many of today's modern conveniences and landmarks.

The United States is home to many accomplished and dedicated Right of Way professionals--the IRWA has been providing the path to success and adamant professionalism for members since its inception as a not-for- profit association in 1934. IRWA has united the efforts of its members toward professional development, improved service to employers and the public, and continues to make advancements within the Right of Way profession.

Right of Way professionals play a leading role in the development and advancement of our transportation, water, and energy projects, while advancing America for future generations. IRWA has nearly 10,000 professional members comprised of engineers, appraisers, property managers, acquisition agents, lawyers, surveyors, title experts, environmentalists, and relocation assistance agents.

Right of way professionals improve the lives of citizens across our nation through the building of infrastructure projects that transform our community. Infrastructures the country over have benefited from the hard work of IRWA professionals--the highways we drive on, utilities in our homes, and telephone towers that enable us to communicate--have all benefitted because a Right of Way professional applied their unique expertise in creating the nation's infrastructure.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3293, the Labor/HHS spending bill for Fiscal Year 2009.

Requesting Member: Congressman Fred Upton

Benton Harbor Workforce Transformation Program

Department: Labor

Account: Employment and Training Administration--Training and Employment Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan Works--Benton Harbor, Ml

Address of Requesting Entity: Michigan Works, 499 W. Main St., Benton Harbor, MI 49022

Description of Request: Michigan Works, a state-supported job recruitment and training organization, is starting a job-training program designed to work in tandem with the upcoming $500 million Harbor Shores mixed-use economic development project being undertaken by Benton Harbor. The basic workforce transformation program, which would be funded by the monies requested here, includes at least three core elements: basic skills training, including workforce literacy remediation; skills training for in-demand, high-growth occupations; and transitional job services. All activities will be based on proven programs administered by workforce training professionals as part of the region's existing and ongoing workforce development activities. All programs will be designed to reduce the unemployment rate, increase the local labor participation rate, increase job readiness, place people into jobs, and increase per capita income. These funds are consistent with the mission of the Employment and Training Administration. Benton Harbor, Michigan is the poorest city in one of the most economically challenged states in America. The magnitude of Benton Harbor's problems is stunning--a workforce with an average 6th grade literacy level and an 80 percent high school dropout rate by young males. In Benton Harbor 42 percent of the available workers are out of the workforce, a fact exacerbated by the lack of basic skills needed to maintain employment which has only served as a barrier to attract new employers into the area

Amount: $381,000

Financial Breakdown: The majority of this funding (around 70 percent) will go to staffing services, stipends for program participants, as well as literacy remediation services. The remainder of the funding will be provided for training scholarships, community outreach, participant assessments and support services. Michigan Works will provide supplemental funds.

Kalamazoo Community Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Nursing Distance Learning Initiative

Department: Health

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration--Health Facilities and Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Kalamazoo Community Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services

Address of Requesting Entity: 3299 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49048

Description of Request: The Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services agency will partner with Wayne State University's School of Nursing, the only nursing school in Michigan offering an Advanced Psychiatric and Community Public Health Nurse Practitioner degree program, to bring the opportunity through the use of distance learning technology for nurses in Kalamazoo and surrounding communities to participate in this three-year program right in their home communities, rather than have to travel all the way across the State to Detroit. The plan would provide scholarships to local nurses who wish to participate in exchange for a commitment to remain in and serve their Southwest Michigan communities. Southwest Michigan is a medically underserved area, with a shortage of nurses, and a particularly acute shortage of nurses with advanced training to meet community mental health needs. The Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Nursing Distance Learning proposal promises to be an innovative and successful way to address this pressing need.

Amount: $100,000

Financial Breakdown: The majority of funding for this project (around 60%) will go to nursing faculty, with supplemental funding going to polycom and video conferencing equipment, as well as scholarships for nursing students.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College Wind Technician Academy

Department: Education

Account: Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Address of Requesting Entity: 6767 West 0 Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49003

KVCC Wind Energy Center will launch a Wind Turbine Technician Academy in the fall of 2009. The competency based program will provide graduates with multi craft credentials which are highly sought after by the wind power industry for the construction, operation

and maintenance of utility size wind turbines. The training uses established curriculum based on globally recognized BZEE utility grade turbine technician standards. The KVCC program will be the first BZEE certification program in the US, and will include training on a decommissioned utility grade turbine in a lab at KVCC. The Wind Turbine Technician Academy can be completed in less than 6 months, making the program viable for retraining of workers and for the training of the next generation workforce. The Wind Turbine Technician Academy will consist of three integrated segments: Pre-Employment Electrical Apprenticeship, Wind Turbine Technology Education, and Field Experience. Michigan ranks 14th in terms of wind energy potential, but is currently well behind other states in terms of installed wind generating capacity. The Academy will promote Michigan's potential through their ability to produce highly qualified workers in 6 months and through their plan to create an advisory panel made up of national wind energy employers.

Amount: $350,000

Financial Breakdown: Approximately 75% of this funding will go toward the purchase of wind turbine components, tools and training equipment. The remaining 25% will be split between purchasing lab equipment and curriculum development. KVCC has been, and will continue to provide, supplemental funding for the program.

Lake Michigan College Energy Job Training Program

Department: Education

Account: Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lake Michigan College

Address of Requesting Entity: 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor,

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2010.

1. Advanced Digital Hydraulic Drive Systems

Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation--Army

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Eaton Corporation

Address of Requesting Entity: 26201 Northwestern Highway, Southfield,

I thank my friend from California.

I'm from the great State of Michigan where our unemployment is, sadly, at 15.2 percent, almost twice the national average. Last night we learned from the National Association of Auto Dealers that, in fact, in just 3 days this program has brought about almost a quarter of a million new car sales, yet the cash is going to run out literally in the next couple of days without an infusion. It's important that we're not taking new money. This is existing money. This bill moves existing money from other accounts, so it will not add to this year's deficit, but it is going to run out without this legislation.

Here is today's USA Today, a full page ad by Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, $4,500 back if you purchase a new vehicle, turn in your old one, and get something that's at least 10 miles per gallon better. A lot of our auto dealers can do it, whether it's the Big Three or the transplants too. Nationwide, one in 10 jobs are auto-related. In Michigan it's about one in four, one in five jobs. For the last 3 years, auto sales have declined by nearly 50 percent. There are 16 other countries that have done this. Whether it be Germany, South Korea, even Slovakia has done this. In all of those 16 countries, car sales have come back. This country lost one in five manufacturing jobs in the last 16 months. If we want to keep jobs here in this country, bring back some of those that we have lost, obviously it's got to be in the auto sector where 1 in 10 jobs are auto-related. This bill sends those dominos the other way. It brings people back in the showroom. We've demonstrated that just this week. It brings back the call orders. We've heard from a number of dealers across Michigan that they're, frankly, running out of cars. Guess what they're going to do--they're going to order them back, and that's going to bring people back to work.

Let me just end on this, wouldn't you rather have people working and paying taxes than being unemployed and receiving benefits which, in Michigan, are becoming exhausted? I ask my colleagues to vote for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, let's face it: the recent events have shown us that the current system regarding food safety is not working. And I want to compliment those Members that have been actively involved in this, those from our Committee on Oversight and Investigations that exposed many of the problems, obviously the leadership on both sides, Republicans and Democrats, as we moved this bill through our subcommittee and then full committee by a voice vote.

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee found severe problems. We are very aware of those problems because those problems have been exposed nationally. Obviously, we have a number of very bad actors, but they have jeopardized the whole food chain. We remember the peanut butter issue and spinach and tomatoes. We need to be deliberate to tackle the issue and obviously be bipartisan to resolve the issue, and that's what this legislation does.

As Mr. Shimkus indicated, farms are not required to register with the FDA. There are no large fees associated with this bill. There is no duplication with the USDA, as I understand it.

My district in southwest Michigan has a whole number of different food sources from fruits and vegetables to giant food processors and great companies like Kellogg's. Industry is united behind this legislation. It needs to happen so that consumers will know for sure that there is a mechanism in place to identify when a product, in fact, is bad, that needs to be recalled. And this bill, as it has moved through committee, has shown that bipartisan support.

I would urge my colleagues on both sides to support it.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Requesting Member: Congressman Fred Upton

1. Allegan County Facility Improvement and Bus Replacement, MI

Department: Federal Transit Administration

Account: Buses & Bus Facilities

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Allegan County Transportation

Address of Requesting Entity: 3255 122nd Avenue, Suite 200, Allegan, Michigan 49010

Description of Request: This request is for the replacement of eight eligible transit vehicles. The requesting entity, Allegan County Transportation, will be meeting the required level of matching funding.

Amount: $383,000

Financial Breakdown: Funding will be used to purchase eight public transit vehicles--six buses and two ADA vans. Allegan County will provide their required 20% match.

Justification for the use of taxpayer dollars: This funding is consistent with the mission of the Federal Transit Administration.

Mr. Speaker, the question of the day is ``Where are the jobs?'' I will tell you where they're not. They're not in Michigan. Our unemployment is 15.2 percent. And sadly, in this House, we passed an awful energy bill a couple of weeks ago called cap-and-trade. That bill will add nearly a trillion dollars to the cost of businesses and homes across this country. Does that help with jobs? Absolutely not.

In fact, one of my constituents in Michigan said their utility increases, their electricity costs will go up by nearly 40 percent by the year 2024. Is that going to help with jobs? Absolutely not.

Did the Rules Committee allow us to add jobs with an amendment that would build perhaps as many as 100 new nuclear reactors in this country, tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of jobs? No. The Rules Committee said, You cannot offer that amendment.

Now, where are the jobs going? They're going to India and China. Did you happen to see on July 16 The New York Times where Secretary Chu said that if China's emissions of global warming gasses keep growing at the pace of the last 30 years, the country will emit more gasses in the next three decades than the United States.

Where are the jobs?

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

St. Joseph Harbor O&M Dredging

Department: Army Corps of Engineers

Account: Operations & Maintenance

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Berrien County, Michigan

Address of Requesting Entity: Berrien County Administration Center, 701 Main St., St. Joseph, MI 49085

This request is for securing funds fur dredging both the inner and outer harbor of St. Joseph, Michigan, as well as performing much-needed structural repairs. The inner harbor is a key port for raw materials such as limestone, sand and gravel for state highways. Road and building construction projects in the area receive a majority of their aggregate materials through the three commercial docks located in this harbor. Additionally, it is a major hub for recreational boaters, with over 1,600 boat slips. This project has been authorized through many WRDA acts, is vital to the economic viability of Southwest Michigan, and has the support of the entire community.

The St. Joseph Harbor is an integral cog in the region's economic engine. A recent study by Purdue University gauged the harbor's economic impact at more than $5.5 million dollars and more than 35 local jobs. The St. Joseph Harbor is among the top 50 in commercial activity among Great Lakes Harbors.

Amount: $750,000

Funding Breakdown: The entirety of this funding will go towards dredging to the entrance, inner channel of the harbor and outer harbor. Supplemental funds will be provided by Berrien County and local municipalities.

New Buffalo Federal Channel O&M Dredging

Department: Army Corps of Engineers

Account: Operations & Maintenance

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of New Buffalo, Michigan

Address of Requesting Entity: City of New Buffalo, 244 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo, MI 49117

This request is to secure funds for the dredging of the Federal Channel in New Buffalo Harbor, from the Whittaker Street Bridge to Lake Michigan. The floodwaters from the September 14, 2008 storm event discharged an immense amount of sediment into the federal channel which has restricted the access to Lake Michigan. The project would dredge the federal channel to remove the shoals (much worse then what normal dredging handles) which prevent boats from accessing Lake Michigan. Dredged material would be used to supplement a beach nourishment area established by the ACOE. The federal channel serves boat traffic for the south Lake Michigan area, including residents of Chicagoland and Northern Indiana. New Buffalo is a boating community with an economy that relies entirely on its harbor's access to Lake Michigan via the Gallen River. Without the dredging, the City and surrounding area will see a significant decline in tourism and related jobs. This project is authorized through the River and Harbor Act of 1962.

Amount: $139,000

Funding Breakdown: The entirety of this funding will go toward the dredging of the Federal Channel in New Buffalo Harbor, from the Whittaker Street Bridge to Lake Michigan

Western Michigan University Green Manufacturing and Energy Conscious Design Program

Department: Energy

Account: Office of Science and Biological Research

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Western Michigan University

Address of Requesting Entity: 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008

This project will assist companies (small companies in particular) to take advantage of environmentally benign and energy conscious materials in their design and manufacturing processes. The proposal is a collaborative project involving WMU College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, industry partners and community participants and seeks to enhance economic and workforce development and technology transfer through the advancement and use of environmentally friendly materials, designs, products and manufacturing processes and systems, building upon the already successful manufacturing, environment and energy research centers and programs at

Madam Speaker, Pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of HR 2997, the Agriculture Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010. I would note that many of my Michigan colleagues signed a letter requesting these amounts.

Apple Fire Blight

Department: Agriculture

Account: Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity:

Description of Request: Fire Blight is a major threat to Michigan's apple trees and has reduced apple acreage in Michigan by an astounding 24%. Michigan and New York researchers are taking aggressive measures against fire blight including development of blight-resistant varieties and new, environmentally responsible control strategies. Finding ways to control and curb fire blight is of critical importance to apple growers in my district and elsewhere. This research is very promising, and its results will help apple growers significantly increase their yields.

Amount: $346,000

Financial Breakdown: Approximately, $148,000 is for the salaries of laboratory and field research personal; and $36,000 is for materials and supplies. Michigan State University has obtained funding from the Michigan Apple Committee and industry sources and will continue to fund the fire blight research at MSU at a level of $52, 500 in FY09.

Phytopthora Research

Department: Agriculture

Account: Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity:

Description of Request: Researchers at Michigan State University are leaders in the fight to control Phytophthora capsici, a fungal-like pathogen that lives in the soil and causes numerous plants to rot. Phytophthora management has been complicated by its longevity in soils (10 or more years), its ability to spread in water, its resistance to key fungicides and lack of disease resistant varieties. Michigan State University has developed new techniques for control and resistant varieties. However, losses caused by Phytophthora have become so large throughout the nation in recent years that the economic viability of the vegetable industries in many states is at risk, and more research is necessary. Since 1996, researchers have leveraged private, state and federal funds to significantly advance disease management. The widespread crop loss caused by Phytophthora capsici will be lessened, keeping family farms and their communities viable. Spread of Phytophthora to new sites will be stopped. Ways to remediate/treat infested ground and water sources will be identified. Integrated management strategies that emphasize cultural methods and environmentally friendly practices will be developed.

Amount: $346,000

Financial Breakdown: This money will provide $346,000 in funding for Phytophthora research at Michigan State University. Approximately 85 percent of the funding will go to researchers, technicians and students. Approximately 15 percent will be used for materials, supplies and administration. Michigan State University has received outside sources of funding for Phytophthora research as well. This funding is consistent with the authorized purpose of the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Lady Fighting Irish of Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan on being named the 2009 Division 4 State Soccer Champions. This team of young ladies, lead by Coach Tim Halloran and assisted by Coaches Erin Moore, Alyssa Chludzinski and Trainer Cailee Servais, has put in endless hours of hard work and dedication to bring home the their third state championship trophy since 2002.

Winning a state championship is a memory that will last a lifetime. It is a remarkable achievement that few teams ever experience, and it is a legacy that will live with the 2009 Lady Fighting Irish forever. This young team, lead by captains Maddie Brennan, Julie Ross and Stephanie Johnson, played a close game against the Madison Heights Bishop Foley Ventures and came out victorious beating the Ventures 1-0.

It is an honor to pay tribute to the entire Lady Fighting Irish team: Rebecca Farrer, Kalani Bates, Sara Howard, Maria Escamillia, Megan Putnam, Johanna Hamilton, Stephanie Walley, Christina Pinon, Aleks Svikis, Maddie Brennan, Ana Villalobos, Emma Forster, Neil Locke, Claire Sorek, Stephanie Johnson, Casey Lamp, Erin May, Mallory Busso, Maggie Wenzel, Ashleigh Reisterer and Julie Ross. We are so proud of all of you.

On behalf of all the residents of southwest Michigan, congratulations again to the Lady Fighting Irish, Coach Halloran and the entire greater Kalamazoo community--you are an inspiration to us all. It is Hackett Catholic Central pride at its finest. Go Fighting Irish!

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Portage Northern High School Forensic Team on its eighth consecutive state championship at the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association state finals.

Portage Northern's forensic program, led by Coach Laurel Scheidt, has a rich 44 year history with 11 state titles to its name. The team had a successful 2009 season with first-place finishes at every invitational and an excellent performance at both the district and regional competitions. At this year's state competition over 80 schools and 800 students participated. The Northern team dominated the Class A division, qualifying the maximum 28 entries to the tournament with 45 students. Northern collected a record 1,066 sweepstake points defeating second place finisher Birmingham Seaholm High School by over 330 points.

It is an honor to congratulate the entire 2009 Portage Northern Forensic Team and pay special tribute to first-place finishers Andrew Beckner, Spencer Dudd, John Kramer, Kasey McSoley, Brennan Mange, Bryce Maurer, Nich Mueller, Nathan Novaria, Brady O'Brien, Caitlin Utt, Allyson Williams and Amanda Willoughby.

On behalf of all residents of southwest Michigan, congratulations again to the Portage Northern Forensic Team, Coach Laurel Scheidt and the entire Portage Community--you are an inspiration to us all. Go Huskies!

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Lady Vikings of Niles High School who recently won their first ever state championship in school history. These outstanding women were on a mission all season long, and this was a team of firsts--last season they were the first in school history to win a regional championship, and in 2009, they completed the mission and cemented their legacy as the first state champions in women's athletics at Niles High School.

Winning a state title is something that will last forever. It is a truly remarkable accomplishment that few teams in southwest Michigan ever experience, and it is a legacy that will live with the 2009 Lady Vikings forever. While the Vikings were led by the best pitcher in the State of Michigan, Jenna Ignowski, they were a team that worked hard to improve every part of their game. These Lady Vikings improved their defense throughout the season and there were no easy outs up and down the Viking lineup.

It is an honor to pay tribute to the entire Lady Vikings team and head coach Gary Collins.

On behalf of all of the residents of southwest Michigan, congratulations again to the Lady Vikings, Coach Collins and the entire Niles community--you are an inspiration to us all.

It is Viking Pride at its finest. Go vikings?

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Lady Mustangs of Portage Central High School on being named the 2009 Division 1 State Soccer Champions. This team of young ladies, lead by 24-year Mustang Coach Pat Norman, has put in endless hours of hard work and dedication making them the first program west of Ann Arbor and Saginaw to win a Division 1 Women's Soccer State Title since the debut of women's soccer in 1971.

Winning a state championship is a memory that will last a lifetime. It is a remarkable achievement that few teams ever experience, and it is a legacy that will live with the 2009 Lady Mustangs forever. This young team, lead by captains Shannon Bennett, Lauren Brown, and Courtney Havens-Mitchell, played a close game against the Utica Eisenhower Eagles and came out victorious beating the Eagles 3-2 in overtime.

It is an honor to pay tribute to the entire Lady Mustang team: Lindsey Arnett, Mara Bennett, Shannon Bennett, Samantha Bowdirch, Lauren Brown, Lunden Carpenter, Natalie Hall, Katie Hamilton, Courtney Havens-Mitchell, Shelby Humphries, Jaime Morton, Taylor Peterson, Lindsay Shafer, Charlie Socia, Meghan Sokolowski, Colleen Unsworth, Katelyn Weissert, Paige Wester, and Jordan Wolf. We are so proud of all of you.

On behalf of all the residents of southwest Michigan, congratulations again to the Lady Mustangs, Coach Norman and the entire Portage community--you are an inspiration to us all. It is Portage Central Pride at its finest. Go Mustangs!

Would the gentleman yield?

I, too, extend my congratulations, as I understand it, in charge of arms control. And I think this is a particularly worthy day that you have this job still, as a Member of Congress, until the end of the day, because you're going to need to repair a lot of arms on that side of the aisle after this vote is over.

Madam Speaker, this bill sure is an energy bill. This bill will turn out the lights on America.

You know, there was a chance that we were going to have a bipartisan bill. But that chance melted away when the subcommittee failed to mark up a bill and we went right to full committee. We thought we might have a chance on the House floor. And I can remember when Speaker Hastert was in your chair, Madam Speaker, because 4 years ago we had an energy bill on the floor and there were more than 50 amendments that were offered under Chairman Dreier and the Rules Committee, many of them Democratic amendments. We spent a number of days on this. And at the end of the day, both Mr. Dingell, the former chairman, and Joe Barton, the then-chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, were able to vote for a bill because, in fact, it was bipartisan.

Yesterday more than 200 amendments were filed up at the Rules Committee, many of them Republican, many of them bipartisan. Mr. Hill, Democrat from Indiana, and I offered a bipartisan amendment on nuclear. Nuclear is one issue that is absent from this bill. Don't ask me why. There are no greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear. It really is a jobs bill. I've got two nuclear plants in my congressional district. When they were both brought online, 85 percent of the components were made in America. Today for a new nuclear plant, 85 percent is going to come from someplace else because we turned the light from green to red on nuclear the last 20, 25 years. Yet no amendment on nuclear in this bill and in this rule.

I woke up this morning and saw my friend and colleague Mr. Inslee speaking on C-SPAN. He said this bill was going to cost only a postage stamp. I looked at the paper this morning and saw a full-page ad: gasoline costs will only go up 2 cents a gallon.

You know, I hope they're true. But I don't think that those statements are going to be true. We had amendments as a safety valve in case it does go up. The CBO and American Petroleum Institute say that gas prices are going to go up 77 cents a gallon, diesel prices 88 cents a gallon. Some energy costs could go up by 40 to 50 percent. We had amendments that said, hey, if gasoline goes up to 5 bucks a gallon, we're going to take off this cap-and-trade. If electricity prices go up more than 10 percent, we'll take off cap-and-trade. If unemployment reaches 15 percent, and it's almost there already in Michigan, we'll take off those job-killing provisions. Were those amendments allowed? No.

Then we've got the whole issue of India and China, jobs going someplace else. That consumed a couple of hours of debate, I think, in full committee. Yet no amendment at all allowed on the House floor.

Madam Speaker, my folks want to work and pay taxes. Yet they're going to find themselves laid off, and in Michigan a hundred thousand folks this year will run out of benefits. No amendments are allowed to help those folks. Not even a Republican substitute is allowed as part of this rule.

Madam Speaker, your side has an 80-vote margin. I would like to think that at least we could have the same cards to offer positive constructive amendments and debate it on the merits, not on the politics.